"The women on the streets have faces of playing cards; the outlines accurately filled in with pink or yellow, and the line drawn tightly around them. Then, at a top-floor window, leaning out, looking down, you see beauty itself; or in the corner of an omnibus; or squatteed in a ditch - beauty glowing, suddenly expressive, withdrawn the moment after." (page 90)
When we were discussing chapter 10, we came across several points in the novel where Woolf explained her ideas on the thought of beauty. We meet Nick Bramham, the painter, and Fanny Elmer, the model, and are introduced to Woolf's somewhat unusual take on the beauty each women holds at a point in their life. When society promotes fake make-up, clothing, trends, hobbies, etc. that usually influence a vast majority of women, young and old, Woolf declares that this is the opposite of the true meaning of a woman's beauty. As she describes Fanny posing for Nick, he is disgusted when Fanny delicately places a shawl across her back, sits up straight, and highlights specific features on her face. He ends up examining his own work and calls it bad. At once, Fanny dresses in a robe and collapses on the floor. Woolf states, "yes, beauty, flying through the room, shone there for a second."
I was wondering whether all of this was some sort of prophesy for the ages to come or whether it was just Woolf's simple opinion on the matter. The simplicity of the statement reveals flaws in society today. Any thoughts? - bzw-c Feb 2, 2008
It does seem a prophecy of things to come or, perhaps, the way things always have been and will be. We see a contrived view of beauty in the world that is based on being made to look a certain way. It is interesting to note in the example of Fanny and her portrait that it is not until she gets emotional and puts on the robe that her beauty is revealed, implying that there is something inner in the form of her restlessness or compassion that is expressed.- AHa-c Feb 2, 2008
We discussed this topic in class a lot probably because I could never fully grasp this idea of beauty coming as a wave. It is strange and abstract, yet the more I thought about it, the more it kind of makes sense. I think that Woolf used this idea of beauty in her novel for the same reason that she wrote in the way she did. She was introducing a new "style" but also a different way of thinking about the novel, reading the novel, and ultimately thinking about life. I never would have thought of beauty as a wave if I didn't read her book. But in a way it makes sense. I believe that she is not saying that we are ugly all the time, but simply that waves of beauty pass through each and every one of us at different times, that we cannot choose. We may look different in a certain light, or someone might see us in a different, more beautiful way for a split second. That split second is when the "beauty wave" is passing through us. Although it may be hard to understand, I believe that Woolf succeeded in showing a new way of thinking of beauty. - ptr-c Feb 2, 2008
I am a bit confused about Woolf's perception of beauty because she consistantly describes Florinda as beautiful. Later on in the book, she notes that "beauty is almost always dumb" (74). What does this mean? That nobody can have the "best of both worlds" and be both beautiful and intelligent? But then if you considered Woolf's idea of beauty being a wave, of coming and going randomly, then this notion doesn't make sense. The only thing i could come up with is this: Woolf's "beauty is dumb" concept applies only to women like Florinda who acquire unnatual beauty by dressing themselves up with fancy clothes, makeup and jewelry because they try to obtain beauty permanently. Other theories? - lma-c Feb 2, 2008
I thought the "beauty as a wave" theory was incredible. Many people grow up thinking that they are not beautiful. Some girls spend two hours in the mirror thinking that another pound of make-up, a different hairstyle, or a new shirt will make them look beautiful. But as we have seen, Woolf believes that it's not the make-up or superficial looks that make someone beautiful, it's that one simple moment that can make all the difference. A model could spend five hours posing for a potrait, but the second she sits down, laughs, smiles, or just is herself, we see the real beauty.
I think that was point that Woolf was trying to make. Everyone is beautiful when they are themselves. It is at a certain time that their true beauty can be seen. We can try to enhance our beauty, but no one can truly see it unless we are ourselves.
That beauty is dumb theory has now confused me also. Because if everyone is beautiful in their own special way and their own time, wouldn't those women with brains look beautiful at one point? Or was Woolf stressing that the women who are perceived as beautiful all the time do not have brains? - szd-c Feb 2, 2008
This page was last revised by szd-c on Feb 2, 2008 9:07 am.
When we were discussing chapter 10, we came across several points in the novel where Woolf explained her ideas on the thought of beauty. We meet Nick Bramham, the painter, and Fanny Elmer, the model, and are introduced to Woolf's somewhat unusual take on the beauty each women holds at a point in their life. When society promotes fake make-up, clothing, trends, hobbies, etc. that usually influence a vast majority of women, young and old, Woolf declares that this is the opposite of the true meaning of a woman's beauty. As she describes Fanny posing for Nick, he is disgusted when Fanny delicately places a shawl across her back, sits up straight, and highlights specific features on her face. He ends up examining his own work and calls it bad. At once, Fanny dresses in a robe and collapses on the floor. Woolf states, "yes, beauty, flying through the room, shone there for a second."
I was wondering whether all of this was some sort of prophesy for the ages to come or whether it was just Woolf's simple opinion on the matter. The simplicity of the statement reveals flaws in society today. Any thoughts? -
It does seem a prophecy of things to come or, perhaps, the way things always have been and will be. We see a contrived view of beauty in the world that is based on being made to look a certain way. It is interesting to note in the example of Fanny and her portrait that it is not until she gets emotional and puts on the robe that her beauty is revealed, implying that there is something inner in the form of her restlessness or compassion that is expressed.-
We discussed this topic in class a lot probably because I could never fully grasp this idea of beauty coming as a wave. It is strange and abstract, yet the more I thought about it, the more it kind of makes sense. I think that Woolf used this idea of beauty in her novel for the same reason that she wrote in the way she did. She was introducing a new "style" but also a different way of thinking about the novel, reading the novel, and ultimately thinking about life. I never would have thought of beauty as a wave if I didn't read her book. But in a way it makes sense. I believe that she is not saying that we are ugly all the time, but simply that waves of beauty pass through each and every one of us at different times, that we cannot choose. We may look different in a certain light, or someone might see us in a different, more beautiful way for a split second. That split second is when the "beauty wave" is passing through us. Although it may be hard to understand, I believe that Woolf succeeded in showing a new way of thinking of beauty. -
I am a bit confused about Woolf's perception of beauty because she consistantly describes Florinda as beautiful. Later on in the book, she notes that "beauty is almost always dumb" (74). What does this mean? That nobody can have the "best of both worlds" and be both beautiful and intelligent? But then if you considered Woolf's idea of beauty being a wave, of coming and going randomly, then this notion doesn't make sense. The only thing i could come up with is this: Woolf's "beauty is dumb" concept applies only to women like Florinda who acquire unnatual beauty by dressing themselves up with fancy clothes, makeup and jewelry because they try to obtain beauty permanently. Other theories?
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I thought the "beauty as a wave" theory was incredible. Many people grow up thinking that they are not beautiful. Some girls spend two hours in the mirror thinking that another pound of make-up, a different hairstyle, or a new shirt will make them look beautiful. But as we have seen, Woolf believes that it's not the make-up or superficial looks that make someone beautiful, it's that one simple moment that can make all the difference. A model could spend five hours posing for a potrait, but the second she sits down, laughs, smiles, or just is herself, we see the real beauty.
I think that was point that Woolf was trying to make. Everyone is beautiful when they are themselves. It is at a certain time that their true beauty can be seen. We can try to enhance our beauty, but no one can truly see it unless we are ourselves.
That beauty is dumb theory has now confused me also. Because if everyone is beautiful in their own special way and their own time, wouldn't those women with brains look beautiful at one point? Or was Woolf stressing that the women who are perceived as beautiful all the time do not have brains?
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This page was last revised by szd-c on Feb 2, 2008 9:07 am.